Library will hold Edible Book Festival

“War Drobe in the far land of Spare Oom” — the winning entry, created by Sharon and Sarah Peterson — was based on C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” from Princeton Public Library’s first Edible Book Festival held last summer.

PRINCETON — The Princeton Public Library will hold its second Edible Book Festival beginning at 6:30 p.m. April 2.

The festival is inspired by the International Edible Book Festival, a creation of Judith A. Hoffberg and Beatrice Coron. Hoffberg got the idea over a Thanksgiving turkey with book artists in 1999, and Coron created the Books2Eat website where delicious book creations can be enjoyed by everyone around the world, regardless of distance. They contacted friends and colleagues; their first event happened in 2000. Since then the festival continues as an annual sensation.

Edible Book Festivals are held around the world on or around April 1, which is the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du goût (The Physiology of Taste), a witty meditation on food. As the beginning of April is also April Fool’s Day, it is a good occasion to be playful with words and food — even to the point of eating one’s words as part of the Edible Book Festival.

To enter the festival, participants should keep in mind the following:

1. Entries must be primarily edible and must represent some sort of book qualities. Participants can take inspiration from a poem, a beloved piece of cover art, manga, a famous author, a scroll ... just use your imagination and your culinary skills! It is up to the individual or team what constitutes a book. While baked goods are perhaps an easy and welcome form of submission, entrants are also encouraged to “think outside the cake” for their entries. For more inspiration, go to the Books2Eat website.

2. Entries should hold their shape while on display (about 2.5 hours without refrigeration).

3. Entries submitted will be photographed, and images displayed online on the Festival’s website and the Princeton Public Library’s website and Facebook page.

4. Entrants may display their book inspiration (or a cover image) alongside their entry.

5. If the entrant wishes, entries will be served to fellow participants and the general public at the end of the festival.

Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Friday. Entrants may send an email to rmccutchan@princetonpl.org. Be sure to include entrant’s name (or team name with list of members), title of entry and title of book inspiring entry (if applicable). Registration forms are also available and may be dropped off at the Princeton Public Library circulation desk.

On April 2, entrants will drop off their entries from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to view the entries between 6:30 and 7 p.m., with tasting of entries and general festivity from 7 to 8 p.m.